In this section

COLESHILL

The short northern boundary of the parish is formed
by the River Tame and then crosses to the Cole shortly
before that stream flows into the River Blythe, which
constitutes the eastern boundary. On the south the
boundary runs for the most part along a road leading
to Marston Green as far as the Low Brook, which runs
northwards along the western edge of the parish, becoming Kingshurst Brook before it enters the River
Cole near Bacon's End and just north of Chelmesley
Wood, which is the largest block of woodland in
the parish and is mentioned as early as 1200. (fn. 2) The
boundary then turns west up the Cole till it reaches the
edge of Aston parish, near Babbs Mill, when it turns
north past York's Wood and the moated site of Burton's
Farm, and so across country to the Tame.

The country is pleasant gently undulating pasture
land, with some arable, well treed. The town of Coleshill lies along a ridge road running northwards from
Warwick at a height of about 330 ft., the church
standing at 355 ft., from which point the road drops
fairly steeply to 245 ft. at the bridge over the Cole.
Here the main road turns north-westwards to Lichfield
but sends a branch northwards to Forge Mills, where
is a station on the Birmingham-Derby line of the
L.M.S. Railway, which crosses the northern tip of the
parish. Farther west, and separated in the south from
the first road by the plantations surrounding the extensive Coleshill Pool, (fn. 3) the Old Chester Road from Warwick to Birmingham runs in a north-westerly direction
over Coleshill Heath past Windy Arbor, crossing the
Cole at Bacon's End Bridge, above which it is crossed
by a road leading south-west from Coleshill over Ford
Bridge to Sheldon.

The town consists principally of one long street from
north to south. The High Street is about half a mile
long and rises from the bridge at the north end to the
middle of the town, where a turning to the east (Church
Hill) leads to the parish church, which crowns the hill
and forms a landmark for a considerable area. The
Birmingham Road meets the High Street at right angles
on the slope of the hill, about 100 yards north of
Church Hill, and is continued eastwards as Blyth Road.
The south end of the High Street is at Maxstoke Lane,
a turning to the east, whence the road continues southwards as Coventry Road.

The bridge at the north end spanning the River Cole
is ancient and, although it has been widened in modern
times on the west side, it still forms a bottle-neck
approach to the town. It dates apparently from about
the middle of the 16th century and is built of red sandstone ashlar. It consists of six bays with semicircular
arches showing two chamfered orders on the east face:
the west face is modern. There are five piers with
V-shaped cut-waters on both faces: the middle pier is
entirely rebuilt, mostly of brick: some of the others
have been repaired on the east face. The pier parapets,
except above the middle pier, are slightly recessed,
the tops of the lower parts of the V faces sloping back
to them. Above the end arches the ashlar courses are
sloped down to the original steep ramps, and later
masonry to the present more gentle slope is added above
these courses at the north end. There are three further
arches to the north under the causeway, of 17th- or
18th-century masonry, with cut-waters on the east
face.

The buildings in the High Street are numbered from
1 to 147 on the east side and 2 to 156 on the west
side, both from north to south. Other roads are similarly numbered on opposite sides. Many of the numbers are to two or more tenements in an originally
single house. The majority of the buildings are of the
18th century or later, and mostly of red brick with tiled
roofs. But about one-fifth have some indication of a
17th-century or earlier origin; of these only six or seven
have exposed remains of the original timber-framing
that was doubtless the common construction at that
time, while some four or five others have the framing
wholly concealed externally by plaster or rough-cast
facings. None is of exceptional interest, and only one
(no. 148 High Street) can be positively claimed as
being of medieval origin. A few others have 18th-century or later fronts but show 16th- or 17th-century
chimney-stacks above the roofs. A number of the
private houses or shops in the High Street retain wide
covered gateways for the passage of vehicles to the
courts behind: some of these, if not all, were formerly
inns. One informant remembers twenty-two inns in
the street, (fn. 4) most of which are no longer licensed.

Among the secular buildings of the High Street the
following are worthy of notice:

No. 1. A good type of early-18th-century house. It
is of three stories with walls of red brick having rusticated painted angle-dressings, moulded string-courses
and cornice, and plain parapets. The middle entrance
has rusticated work, pilasters with moulded capitals and
bases, a flat arch with a carved keystone, entablature,
and a scrolled broken pediment. The windows have
similar rustications, flat arches, and carved keystones.
A low addition on the north side has similar windows,
and north of this an adjoining small building is of late17th-century brickwork.

Houses nos. 3 and 5, no. 7, and nos. 15 and 17 are
lower houses with plastered fronts and modern windows, &c., but showing 17th-century chimney-shafts
above the tiled roofs. The last is of cross-shaped plan.
Nos. 8–10 shows some 17th-century timber-framing in
the gabled north wall.

No. 35 is a late-18th-century brick house, but in the
yard behind it is a 17th-century timber-framed cottage.

No. 38 is an early-18th-century brick house with
rusticated painted angle-dressings and a wooden eaves
cornice with brackets. The entrance has a wooden
pediment.

Nos. 48–50 is a long low building of the 17th century with a brick front mostly of the 18th century, but
the gabled north end is of original timber-framing.

No. 59, formerly the Lamb Inn, is a late-16th-century house of timber-framing with a modern,
plastered front and parapet. In the north wall under
the wide covered gateway between it and no. 57 some
close-set studding is exposed, and the former doorway
to the cellars. Framing is also seen in the back gabled
end and north side of the upper story of the same wing
of the house, but the interior appears to have been all
modernized. An outbuilding in the yard is of similar
construction.

Nos. 63–5 has a late-18th-century brick front but
shows an early-16th-century moulded ceiling beam in
a cross passage and also has some exposed timber-framing at the back.

Nos. 62–4, at the north corner of Birmingham Road,
opposite, was probably an inn. The front is plastered
and has tall windows with casements and transoms of
the late 17th century, but the interior may be earlier.
Above the roof are two 17th-century chimney-stacks,
one of rebated type.

No. 77 is a narrow plastered house with a gable and
may be of the 17th century or earlier. The lower story
has built-out shop-fronts. Nos. 79–81 is a long plastered
house with a jettied upper story on brackets and may
have been one with no. 77 originally. Above the roof
is a chimney-shaft of c. 1600 with a V-shaped pilaster
on each of its faces.

No. 85 is an 18th-century brick house of three
stories, formerly the Clock Inn; the name was probably
derived from a former clock dial now indicated by a
blocked bull's-eye opening in the front.

No. 87 also has an 18th-century brick front, but the
south gabled side (towards a narrow passage-way) is
completely of 17th-century timber-framing. This was
the Reindeer Inn. A wide covered gateway between
it and no. 85 has a pair of substantial 18th-century
gates with small fielded and bolection-moulded panels
and curved ramped top-rails.

Nos. 95–7 is probably a late-17th-century house: the
front is plastered and has a wooden bracketed eaves
cornice. The upper windows have casement frames
and transoms.

The opposite houses between Birmingham Road and
the Swan Hotel are chiefly 18th-century buildings.
No. 68 at the corner is the Green Man Inn. No. 74
was the Angel Hotel and had a wide covered gateway,
now walled up except for a narrow passage-way. There
are long parallel wings behind and other outbuildings;
one that crosses the courtyard was once used as a Roman
Catholic Chapel. Through it is a wide covered gateway
through which coaches entered the yard from the road
at the rear (Parkfield Road).

No. 90, The Swan Hotel (opposite Church Hill),
has an 18th-century main front block; a long wing
extending behind was mostly of the early 17th century
with original timber-framing, but has now been rebuilt. Some of the lower ceilings had heavy joists or
chamfered beams and the roof had old queen-post
trusses.

Nos. 107–9 was once the Three Tuns Inn. It is
a late-16th-century house of half-H-shaped plan having
a main block between two cross wings jettied on the
west front. The gable-head of the north wing is also
jettied. The overhang of the south wing has been
underbuilt with a shop-front. Next to it is a wide
covered gateway through the main block. The walls
are of timber-framing: some of it with close-set studding
is exposed in the south side of the gateway, but the
whole of the front, including the brackets of the overhangs, is covered with rough-cast cement, and the
windows, &c., have been modernized, as has also the
interior except for a moulded beam in the north wing
and the outline of a heavy tie-beam in the upper story
of the main block. A central chimney-stack is of crossshaped plan above the roof, another projecting behind
the south wing is plain. Against the back of the main
block is an addition of c. 1640–50, showing square
timber-framing in its gabled east wall.

No. 111 is a single-bay plastered house with a gable.
It is probably of the 17th century and had a jettied
upper story.

No. 131, a plaster-fronted early-18th-century house
of two stories, has a deep eaves cornice with square
brackets, and a porch or hood on shafts with moulded
capitals and bases. The entablature has an enriched
frieze of foliage and flowers and the curved pediment
has swags of fruit in the tympanum.

No. 148 is the oldest surviving house in the street.
It is a small timber-framed house covered with roughcast cement and probably only a part of a 15th-century
building that had a main block and wings. The north
wing remains and is built askew with the main block
because of the slight bend in the road. The upper story
in front is jettied on curved brackets. Internally there
are wide flat ceiling-joists to the lower story and the
roof has curved wind-braces. The 16th-century inserted ceiling of the main block has a stop-chamfered
beam and small joists. At the south end is a wide fireplace. A doorway into the wing has a high cambered
lintel or V-shaped arch. There are no visible signs of
an original roof-truss, but a tie-beam over the side of the
wing has been cut through for a doorway. The rafters
are of early wide flat type. The south wing, if there
was one, has disappeared.

No. 154, now a café, is an early-17th-century timber-framed house with wattle and daub and other infilling.
The ceilings are open-timbered and in the roof construction are straight wind-braces.

In Coventry Road, No. 6, on the west side, next
to the Methodist Chapel, is probably a late-17th-century house. It was once an inn. Adjoining north
of it is an early-17th-century timber-framed barn on
brick foundations. The great doorway near the south
end has been walled up. Nos. 8–10, also part of the
former inn, is a taller building of the end of the 17th
century, of red brick.

The other houses are more or less modern, except
nos. 47–9 which is another early-17th-century timber-framed cottage on brick foundations.

In Church Hill no building is earlier than the 18th
century. No. 9 on the north side is a red-brick house
with Ionic pilasters of painted stone at the angles, and
a wooden moulded and bracketed eaves cornice. The
doorway also has Ionic pilasters: the windows are tall
and narrow.

No. 20, on the south side, is also of red brick and
has a moulded painted eaves cornice. The entrance has
plain pilasters, an entablature, and pediment. The
upper sash windows are original. These two buildings
are probably of the early 18th century.

The Market Hall, with open arcading, formerly stood
in the middle of the roadway with the pillory in front
of it. It was demolished in 1865 and the pillory now
stands in front of the building nos. 1–3. It has a post
about 14 ft. high with a turned moulded head, a platform or standing board, and a transom with holes for
the heads and hands of two persons. Lower are the
shackles for whipping and at the foot one of the former
pair for the stocks.

The old Grammar School, at the east right-angle
bend in the road, founded 1612, appears to have been
entirely rebuilt in the 18th century. It is of three stories
with red-brick walls, square-headed windows, and a
dentilled brick eaves cornice.

Farther north are two 17th-century timber-framed
barns, one on either side of the roadway. The eastern
and larger, about 85 ft. long, has 17th-century brick foundations, and large doors towards the road. The other,
about 30 ft. long, has 18th-century brick foundations.

Blyth Road. The small houses on the north side
from no. 1 at the west end to no. 19 were all built or
altered in the 18th century except one, no. 17, which
is a small cottage with 17th-century timber-framed
walls. It sets back from the fronts of the later brick
buildings between which it is sandwiched. The western
of these, nos. 11–15, once contained the jail; it retains
the old iron-plated strong door at the back, in which
is a small grid bound with a strap and staple. Nos. 25–
27, mostly of 18th-century brickwork, shows a few
earlier timbers in the walling.

North of the bridge are several 18th-century houses and
one cottage, east of the Wheatsheaf Inn, which has some
17th-century timber-framing exposed in its north side.

At the hamlet of Gilson, ¾ mile to the north-west,
is a small group that includes Gilson Hall, an early18th-century house of red brick, two cottages of 17th-century timber-framing, one early, a plastered cottage
with a 17th-century chimney-stack, and a timber-framed barn.

Coleshill Hall Farm, on the north side of the Birmingham Road ¾ mile south-west of the church, is an
18th-century brick house, but on the south side of the
road is a 17th-century timber-framed barn and other
farm-buildings. North-east of the house are the remains
of a dry moat with no structures inside it.

At Bacon's End is a modern farm-house with a 17th-century timber-framed barn, and farther north a cottage
with some 17th-century framing.

Bacon's End Bridge, where the main road from
Castle Bromwich crosses the River Cole, is ancient on
the east side but was widened on the west side in 1925.
It is of three bays: the northernmost has a slightly
pointed arch and may be a medieval survival. The
other two are of greater span and have round arches
of the 17th or 18th century. The two piers have
rounded cut-waters, truncated well below the parapet.
The masonry above the arches is squared rough ashlar,
unevenly coursed. A stone in the parapet bears a random inscription W C 1764, and on the west side is an
inscription recording the widening in 1925.

Kingshurst Hall, ¾ mile west of Bacon's End, is a
large red-brick house of two stories and attics dating
from c. 1700. The north-east front is recessed in the
middle, otherwise the plan is a wide rectangle. The
middle entrance has a shell-hood; the windows are
slightly arched and have modern sash frames. Around
the house, and leaving a fairly narrow space on three
sides of it, is a square moat, now dry. The inner
revetting wall is of bricks similar to those in the walls
of the house, on stone foundations, and the approach to
the north-east front is by a brick bridge. The moat is
probably much older than the house and is said to mark
the site of a seat of the De Montforts. At the west corner
outside the moated inclosure is an earlier timber-framed
stable, and south-west of the moat is a square mound.

Southfields Farm, about ¾ mile south of the church,
is an L-shaped house. The main block facing west is
modern, but the back wing retains some timber-framing
of c. 1600. The ceilings have wide stopped chamfers
and masons' joints where they cross each other. Hawkswell Farm, about ½ mile farther on, has a barn of 17th-century timber-framing in three bays.

Wheeley Moor Farm, 1 mile south of the church,
is an early-18th-century house. In the middle of the
east front is a later tall porch and staircase wing with
a side entrance. A cottage, ¼ mile south of it, retains
much of its original framing of c. 1600 and at the back
an ancient window.

Alcott Hall, 2¼ miles south-west of the church, is
a mid-18th-century house of red brick with a central
chimney-stack.

Coleshill Park, the property of the Birmingham Corporation, is now a training colony for mental defectives;
and the Marston Green Cottage Homes, on the western
edge of the parish, originally erected in 1880 by the
Birmingham Board of Guardians for the care of children, have now also been converted into an institution
for mental defectives. There are also Roman Catholic
Homes for children on the Coventry Road, with a
Hospital in connexion therewith. A small almshouse
was founded by William Harvey in 1679; and in 1930
Sir John Sumner established a Trust under which ten
houses were built for the use of ladies in reduced
circumstances.

The Roman Catholics, Congregationalists, and
Methodists have places of worship within the parish.

MANORS

At the time of the Domesday Survey
COLESHILL was a royal manor rated
for 3 hides. There was a priest here and
a mill, and woods 3 leagues in length and 2½ in breadth.
There were also 10 burgesses in Tamworth belonging
to the manor. (fn. 5)

It is uncertain when the manor passed from royal
hands. Dugdale (fn. 6) quotes from a charter of Henry II
which ratifies a grant made to Osbert de Clinton by his
kinsman Geoffrey de Clinton.
In this charter 'there is express
mention that Geffrey de Clinton,
father to the said Geffrey, did
purchase it', which would place
the grant in the time of Henry I.
Osbert de Clinton married Margaret daughter of William de
Hatton, whose father, Hugh,
founded Wroxall Priory. In 1200
Margaret claimed dower by gift
of her late husband Osbert, and
Osbert her son granted her the
whole wood called Chelemundesheia (Chelmesley Wood), the whole wood called
Witesmore, from the oak which is called Castle
Oak to Lutleshare and to Wirsetemede and from
Wirsetemede to Bromwich Blakeley. (fn. 7) In 1207 Osbert
obtained a royal charter for a weekly market in his
manor of Coleshill on a Sunday and an annual fair on
the eve and festival of St. Peter and St. Paul. (fn. 8) Osbert
sided with the Barons against John, but later returned
to his allegiance, whereupon his lands which had been
confiscated were returned to him. (fn. 9) At his death in
1222 (fn. 10) he was succeeded by his son Sir Thomas, but
the overlordship of the fee was confirmed to William
de Briwer, (fn. 11) who immediately sold his rights to William
de Cantilupe for 100 marks. (fn. 12)

Clinton of Coleshill. Argent a chief azure with two fleurs de lis or therein.

In 1241 an agreement (fn. 13) was made by which Thomas
should hold the manor of Coleshill as one knight's fee
from Luke de Culum and Amabel, Ralph son of John
and Isabel, and Warin de Bragenham and Agnes, doing
homage to Warin and Agnes. William de Cantilupe
and the heirs of William de Briwere registered their
claims. Amabel, Isabel, and Agnes were daughters and
co-heirs of Henry de Clinton, (fn. 14) son of the Geoffrey
from whom the first Osbert had acquired the manor.
In 1235 Thomas de Clinton was a justice of assize in
the county (fn. 15) and from 1251 to 1253 was King's
escheator in the county. (fn. 16) In 1254 he was given the
right of free warren in his demesne lands of Coleshill. (fn. 17)
In 1259 Thomas settled the manor on his second son,
John, and his heirs, with contingent remainder to
another son Osbert, Thomas to retain a life tenancy at
a yearly rent of 50s. (fn. 18) Thomas died in 1278. (fn. 19) During
the Barons' War John de Clinton supported Simon de
Montfort and was one of those that held out against
the king at Kenilworth, (fn. 20) for which action his manor
was seized and given to Roger de Clifford in 1265, (fn. 21)
but was restored by the Dictum of Kenilworth. (fn. 22) In
1285, 1309, and 1311 he was commissioner for, or
justice of, oyer and terminer gaol delivery in Warwickshire. (fn. 23) In 1297 he, together with Andrew de Astley,
was entrusted to select knights and esquires in the
county thought fit for service, to attend Edward, the
king's son, and his lieutenant in England, with horses
and arms at London a fortnight after Michaelmas. (fn. 24)
In 1284–5 he claimed by prescription within the lordship of Coleshill, assize of bread and ale, gallows, pillory,
tumbrell and court leet, infangthef and utfangthef, a
market, fair, and free warren. He was then described as
John de Clinton the elder. (fn. 25) He died in 1316, holding
the manor of the young son and heir of John de Clinton
of Maxstoke. (fn. 26) His heir was his 12-year-old grandson,
John, (fn. 27) who subsequently married a daughter of Sir
Roger Hilary, and died in 1353 or 1354 leaving one
daughter Joan. (fn. 28) She as her first husband married Sir
John de Montfort, illegitimate son of Sir Peter de
Montfort of Beaudesert. (fn. 29)

The Montforts had possessed the adjacent manor of
Kingshurst for a long time, and
in 1357 Sir John de Montfort
complained that various persons,
including John le Baillif of Coleshill, had assaulted him at Coleshill in Arden and carried away
his goods and £40 in money. (fn. 30)
Presumably this refers to the same
Montfort who was summoned to
parliament in February 1361 as
a knight of the shire. (fn. 31) At John's
death the manor reverted to his
widow Joan, who then married
John de Sutton and subsequently Sir Henry Griffith.
In 1371 (fn. 32) she entailed the manor in the first place upon
her issue by Sir Henry, in the second place on John son
of John de Sutton, and in the third upon Baldwin her
son by her first husband, to whom it eventually came.

Montfort. Bendy o ten or and azure.

This Baldwin died in Spain in 1385, whither he had
gone to attend the Duke of Lancaster. He married
Margaret, daughter of Sir John de Clinton of Maxstoke, and had four sons John, William, Baldwin, and
Thomas, and one daughter Margaret. John the heir
was not of age at his father's death and Sir William
Bagot was appointed guardian. (fn. 33) John was succeeded
by his brother William who took part in the siege of
Calais and was attached to the household of the earl
of Warwick. (fn. 34) In 1405 he was concerned in the
murder of one Alan Waldeyeve, but was pardoned on
25 April 1407. (fn. 35) He was sheriff for Warwickshire and
Leicestershire in 1431, 1441, and 1450, (fn. 36) and died in
1452. (fn. 37) Dugdale, quoting his will, dated 22 September 1451, says that he intended to found a chantry at
Coleshill, but this was never carried out. (fn. 38)

He was succeeded by his son Sir Baldwin de Montfort or Mountfort, but there was a great dispute as to
the inheritance between Baldwin and his half-brother
Sir Edmund, who was Sir William's son by his second
wife, Joan, (fn. 39) and on whom Sir William had settled the
reversion of the manor in 1451. If Edmund left no
heir, the manor was to return to the right heirs of Sir
William. (fn. 40) Sir William is said also to have enfeoffed
Humphrey, Duke of Buckingham, of the manor, to the
use of Joan and Edmund, which Edmund subsequently
settled the reversion, failing his own heirs, on the duke
and his son Humphrey, Earl of Stafford. (fn. 41) In 1456
or 1457 Sir Baldwin Mountfort released all his right
in the manor to the Duke of Buckingham and others, (fn. 42)
but after the duke's death at the battle of Northampton
in 1460, and the discrediting of Edmund Mountfort,
carver to the deposed Henry VI, he again laid claim to
Coleshill. (fn. 43) Baldwin had already enfeoffed the future
Edward IV, then Earl of March, Richard, Earl of
Warwick, (fn. 44) and others, who might then re-enfeoff
himself or his son Simon. (fn. 45) As a result of these transactions Simon entered into possession of the manor
before 4 March 1461, that is before the accession of
Edward IV. (fn. 46) On 28 August 1465 Sir Simon was
described as 'late of Coleshill' and had been guilty of
insurrection and other misdeeds, (fn. 47) for which, however,
he was pardoned in the following year. (fn. 48) In April
1471 Simon was appointed sheriff of the counties of
Warwick and Leicester. (fn. 49) He was retained by the king
to serve in the French Wars with 5 spearmen and 60
archers, (fn. 50) and in 1469–70 he was Lieutenant of Carisbrooke Castle in the Isle of Wight. (fn. 51) He supported
Perkin Warbeck in his rebellion and was tried at Guildhall, London, on 30 January 1495 for treason. He was
sentenced to be hung, drawn, and quartered—'which
said Catastrophe did put a period to the greatness of
this antient Familie', as Sir William Dugdale observes. (fn. 52)

On Simon's execution and subsequent attainder (fn. 53)
the manor was given in December 1495 by the king to Simon
Digby, deputy Constable of the
Tower, who had brought Simon
de Montfort to his trial, (fn. 54) and
Coleshill has been in the Digby
family ever since.

Digby. Azure a fleur de lis argent.

Simon Digby died on 24 February 1520, (fn. 55) and is buried in a
tomb, made in his lifetime, bearing superb effigies of himself and
his wife, in the sanctuary of
Coleshill Church. Simon Digby was succeeded by his
son Reginald, (fn. 56) whose mother Alice in her will dated
November 1496 left a messuage valued at £1 10s. 8d.
and certain rents to be distributed on the following
conditions: (fn. 57)

Every day in the year immediately after the Sacring of
the High Mass in the Church of Colshill, and at the end
of the same Altar, where the said Mass should so happen
to be sung, to a Child, viz. male or female, whose parents
are Householders dwelling within the Parish, and under
the age of ix years, that can and will, before the said sacring
kneel down at the said Altar's end, and say five Pater
nosters, five Aves and a Creede, for the soul of Simon Digby
her late husband, hers, her Childrens' and all Christen souls,
a peny of silver sterling; beginning first at the House next
to the Church, and so in order passing on from House to
House till all be gone through: and to the Dean of the said
Church, for the time being, yearly for his labour and diligence in seeing the said Prayers so performed; and himself
also saying at the said time a Pater noster, an Ave, and
a Creed for the souls abovesaid, the yearly summe of
vis. viiid. And that the remainder shall be to maintain
a solemn Obit in the said Church, for the souls abovesaid,
with the number of three Priests, whereof the Vicar of
Colshill to be one, and the Deacon and the Clerke besides;
the said Vicar, in case he be present, to have viiid. and to
xii poor people, the same time kneeling about the Herse
and saying our Ladies Psalter, xiid. To the Bell-ringers
vd. For Waxe and Torches, burnt then likewise, xiid.

At the Reformation the land and revenues given to
maintain the charity were confiscated, but the townspeople acquired the income to maintain the Grammar
School and also made a distribution to a child that
should come to the church at 10 each morning and
repeat the Lord's Prayer before the clerk, who for
hearing the child and ringing the bell had a yearly
allowance. (fn. 58)

Reginald Digby married Ann Danvers (fn. 59) and died on
25 February 1549. (fn. 60) Like his parents he is buried at
Coleshill. His son John, who married Anne Throgmorton of Coughton, (fn. 61) died in 1558, (fn. 62) and was succeeded by Sir George, who married Abigail Henningham. (fn. 63) They had several children. The eldest, George,
died young, in 1586, and the heir was his brother Sir
Robert. (fn. 64) This Sir Robert made a very judicious
marriage with Lettice, grand-daughter of Gerald, Earl
of Kildare and Baron Offaly, and herself in 1620
created Baroness Offaly, (fn. 65) who, as the large memorial
on the north wall of the sanctuary at Coleshill points
out, was 'Heir General to that Antient Family of Earls
of Kildare in Ireland', and brought to the Digby family
the vast estates of the Earls of Kildare. Though Sir
Robert and his children lie buried at St. Patrick's
Cathedral, Dublin, memorials to them were erected at
Coleshill as well, a practice that was also followed in the
case of Kildare, Lord Digby. Sir Robert, who died in
1618, was succeeded by his son Robert, (fn. 66) who in 1620
was created Baron Digby of Geashill in Ireland. (fn. 67)
Like his father he married very well, for his first wife
was Sarah second daughter of the 1st Earl of Cork.
Robert died on 7 June 1642 and was buried with his
father in St. Patrick's, Dublin, and his son Kildare,
then a minor, succeeded him. (fn. 68)

Kildare, Lord Digby, although Lord Lieutenant of
King's County in Ireland, seems to have spent much
of his time at Coleshill, where there was at this time
an excellent domestic chaplain and tutor at the Hall,
named William Rawlins. (fn. 69) He was chaplain to several
generations, and is buried in the church, a tablet in the
north wall of the tower commemorating him. He lived
to be a great friend of the vicar, John Kettlewell, and
his wife left, in a will dated 4 March 1694, a handsome
charity to the poor of Coleshill. When Kildare died
Rawlins wrote an epitaph, but this was eclipsed by the
fulsome epitaph to Mary, Kildare's widow, written by
John Kettlewell. Kildare was succeeded by his son
Robert in 1661, (fn. 70) who in turn was succeeded in 1677
by his brother Simon, Lord Digby, (fn. 71) who is very well
known in Coleshill, for he endowed a charity from
which many benefit each year. Moreover, this Simon
was responsible for bringing John Kettlewell to Coleshill as vicar in 1682. Kettlewell was known as the
'Saint of Coleshill' and seems to have deserved the title.
When Simon, Lord Digby, died in 1686 (fn. 72) Kettlewell
preached a memorial sermon in which he said: (fn. 73) 'Upon
the Death of his excellent Lady, besides his liberality
to every adjacent parish for a present Distribution, he
allotted a considerable sum to the use of the Poor for
a perpetual settlement. And now at his own death he
has given a much greater for the use of the poor of this
Parish, and restored two Impropriations, one whereof
is very considerable, to the Church, viz. the Impropriate
Tithes of this Parish of Coles-Hill, and of the Parish
of Upper Whitacre.'

Simon died in 1686 and was succeeded by his
brother William. (fn. 74) There is an interesting roll of ByLaws, now at Coleshill Rates Office, bearing the date
1728, and drawn up during the lordship of William. (fn. 75)
The roll contains thirty by-laws and injunctions, mainly
concerned with draining and street cleanliness. Two
of the heaviest penalties are 16 and 19:

16. 'And that every person who shall carry fire in or
along any street within this Lordship otherwise than in a
Lanthorn or Warming Pan shall for every such Offence
forfeit to the Lord of this Mannor in the Name of a Pain
Thirty shillings.

19. 'And that every person who shall put in the Common feild or Common Meadows or grounds within the
Mannor above five sheep for a Day work, two cows for
a Day work One horse for a Day work or Young Cattle
proportionable shall forfeit to the Lord of this Mannor for
every such Offence in the name of a Pain Thirty shillings.'

William, Lord Digby, succeeded his brother Simon
in 1686, (fn. 76) and was known as 'the good Lord Digby'.
At this time Coleshill was a centre of learning. There
was Kettlewell as vicar, while at the Hall William
Rawlins, who died in 1676, had been succeeded by
Edward Holdsworth, a fellow of Magdalen College,
Oxford, and a nonjuror. He wrote two works, Remarks and Dissertations on Virgil with Some Other
Classical Observations, published in 1768, and Muscipula, or the Mousetrap, a poem published in 1709.
He died suddenly at Coleshill on 30 December 1746
and is buried near the chancel step. (fn. 77)

William, Lord Digby, died in 1752 and was succeeded by his grandson Edward, who, dying unmarried
in 1757, was succeeded by his brother Henry. (fn. 78) The
title of Lord Digby of Sherborne, extinct on the death
of the 3rd Earl of Bristol in 1698, was revived in his
favour in 1765, and in 1790 he was created Viscount
Coleshill and Earl Digby, dying in 1793. (fn. 79) His son
Edward succeeded him and was the 2nd, and last,
Earl Digby and Viscount Coleshill, (fn. 80) dying unmarried
in 1856, when the manor passed to his nephew George
son of Charlotte Mary sister of the 1st Earl Digby,
who had in 1796 married William Wingfield. George
Wingfield, on succeeding to the
estates, took the additional name
of Digby, and became the first
Wingfield Digby. Once again,
however, the squire died childless; and the estates devolved
upon his nephew John son of the
Rev. John Wingfield Digby, vicar
of Coleshill. He died in 1888
and was succeeded by his son
John Kenelm Digby Wingfield
Digby, who dropped down dead
while shooting at Sherborne
Castle in 1904. He was succeeded by his son, then a minor,
now Colonel Frederick Wingfield Digby, who holds the manor
at the present time.

Wingfield-Digby. Azure a fleur de lis argent—Digby, quartering Argent a bend gules cotised sable with three pairs of wings argent on the bend— Wingfield.

The earliest known record of the manor of GILSON
is in 1336, when Richard le Wrong, rector of Shustoke,
was holding it for life, and William le Wronge of Coleshill granted the reversion of the manor to Sir Richard
de Peshale and his heirs. (fn. 81) From Sir Richard, William
de Clinton, Earl of Huntingdon, acquired the manor
about 1345. (fn. 82) In 1346 the earl exchanged Gilson with
John de Collesley for lands about Collesley's Hall, (fn. 83)
a house of which the moat is still plainly visible in a
field at the back of Southfields Farm. John de Collesley
left Gilson to his daughters Margaret, who married
Thomas Holt, and Alice; but in 1349 by a partition it
was allotted to Margaret, who with her second husband, Philip de Budeford, (fn. 84) sold it in 1365 to William
le Mascy or Massy of Swanley, Cheshire. (fn. 85) The manor
passed in succession to his grandson William of Sirscote,
Staffs., whose daughter Katherine and her husband
William de Chesunhale, of Chisnall, co. Lancs., sold
Gilson in 1388 to John de Barwe, a Coventry smith. (fn. 86)
The smith, however, next year conveyed it to Richard
Richards, who in 1401 alienated it to John Tate of
Coventry, and it continued in this family until 1535–
6. (fn. 87) In 1535–6 John Tate sold the manor, then described as Gylston Hall or Guyllysdon Hall, to George
Kebyll, (fn. 88) whose son Thomas sold
it to John Wise in 1577. (fn. 89) In
1598 John Wise settled the
manor on himself for life with successive remainders to his brothers
William and Thomas and their
heirs. (fn. 90) Gilson remained in the
Wise family for a considerable
time. William Wise died seised
of the manor in 1608 leaving
a son Richard, (fn. 91) who in 1656
was dealing with the manor,
along with his wife Lucy, Egerton
Wise, and Chad Kinge and Mary
his wife. (fn. 92) In 1693 Charles Wise was holding the
manor of Gillesden alias Gilson Hall, (fn. 93) but he sold it
to Thomas Murcot, who was holding it in 1706. (fn. 94)
His daughter married John Tarver, and they sold it in
1716 to William, Lord Digby. (fn. 95)

Wise. Sable three cheverons ermine between three serpents argent.

By a lease dated 14 June 1724 William, Lord Digby,
Baron of Geashill in the Kingdom of Ireland, let to
the Rev. Charles Newburgh of the City of Dublin,
clerk, and his daughter Ann the manor of Gilson for
£500 for the full term of 500 years 'if the said Charles
and Anne Newburgh or either of them shall so long
live'. (fn. 96) The manor remained in the hands of the Digby
family, who held it till 1921 when Mr. John Townshend, the tenant, bought it.

The manor of 'Oldecoteshalle' or ALCOTT (at the
south-west end of Chelmesley Wood) was forfeited by
Richard de Lymesy in 1322. (fn. 97) Alice, the widow of
Richard de Seyeldoun, granted to William de Charneles
of Bedworth 'Aldecotenhale' in Coleshill. (fn. 98) The deed
is not dated, but it was probably this William who in
1332 settled on himself and Margaret his wife land
including Aldecotenhale. (fn. 99) In 1383 William's widow
Margaret gave the manor to her son John, (fn. 100) who
settled the property on himself and his wife Elizabeth
in 1384–5, (fn. 101) and their estates were subsequently acquired by Sir William Astley. (fn. 102) In 1434–5 Margaret
widow of Sir William Astley conveyed Alcott to Richard
Orme, (fn. 103) her act being confirmed by Reynold, Lord
Hastings, her son-in-law, to whom the reversion of the
estate belonged. (fn. 104) Reynold's descendant, Sir Edward
Grey, Viscount Lisle, at his death in 1492 owned
pasture and woodland in Alcotenhall, which was held
of Sir Simon Montfort, the lord of Coleshill. (fn. 105) In
1593 John Bellers and his wife Eleanor were dealing
with the manor, so called, of Alcote Hall, (fn. 106) and again
in 1610 (fn. 107) John Bellers, with his wife, here named
Helen, and a son and heir named William conveyed
the manor to John Brandreth and Humphrey Mayou.
In 1692 John Bembowe conveyed to Arthur Devereux
the manors of Aldcoate alias Aldcott, Lindon, and
Shustoke. (fn. 108) It is, however, doubtful if the estate ever
had manorial rights.

In a Rental Book of John Taylor dated 1754–63,
now in the Birmingham Reference Library, Alcott Hall
appears as let by Taylor to John Taverner at a rent of
£45 a year. Eventually it was absorbed into the Digby
estates.

The manor of KINGSHURST is said to have
belonged to the Montforts before they acquired Coleshill and to have descended to Richard second son of
Peter de Montfort in about 1368. (fn. 109) His widow Rose
in 1418 is said to have enfeoffed John de Catesby who
married her granddaughter Margaret, co-heiress of
William de Montfort, (fn. 110) but the manor was subsequently
regained by the lords of Coleshill, and Sir Baldwin
Montfort held it. (fn. 111) His son, Sir William Montfort or
Mountfort, lived here in about 1390 (fn. 112) and established
his title against John de Catesby. (fn. 113) Sir William is said
to have added much of his demesne land of Coleshill
to this manor and to have bequeathed it to his younger
son, Sir Edmund Mountfort, who lived here and made
the PARK here in 1447–8. (fn. 114) His possession does not
appear to have been undisputed since in 1458 or 1459,
his half-brother Sir Baldwin released his right in Kingshurst manor to Humphrey Stafford, eldest son of
Henry, Duke of Buckingham; (fn. 115) and in 1474–5 Richard
Monford, clerk, presumably his brother, did the
same. (fn. 116) Baldwin's son, Simon Mountfort, is described
in 1465 as late of Kingshurst, (fn. 117) and was attainted in
1495, (fn. 118) from which time the profits of this manor were
found, by inquisition, to have passed to Simon Digby
till his death in 1520, after which they passed to his
son Reginald or Reynold Digby. (fn. 119) It was maintained in
this same inquisition made in 1526 that Kingshurst had
from time out of mind been a separate manor and never
part of Coleshill. (fn. 120) It has been said, however, that the
manor did not pass with Coleshill to the Digbys. (fn. 121) It
was conveyed to Simon Mountfort and others in 1529 (fn. 122)
and Simon addressed a letter from there to Cromwell
in 1531. (fn. 123) In 1534 the attainder against Sir Simon
Mountfort was reversed, and his grandson, this Simon,
was granted the manor of Kingshurst. (fn. 124) The Digby
family still disputed possession of the manor, but in
1578 George Digby made a conveyance of Kingshurst
to Francis and William Mountfort. (fn. 125) William Mountfort was holding the manor of the king, by fealty and
rent of a red rose, at his death in 1610. (fn. 126) He also held
Kingshurst Park. (fn. 127) On 24 October 1601 on his son
Edward's marriage with Elizabeth daughter of Valentine Browne he settled this manor, with others, on them
and their heirs male. (fn. 128) Sir Edward Mountfort subsequently passed away all his rights in the manor to Sir
Robert Digby, (fn. 129) lord of Coleshill (q.v.), with which
manor Kingshurst subsequently descended.

CHURCH

The parish church of ST. PETER
AND ST. PAUL consists of a chancel,
with a north vestry, nave, north and south
aisles and porches, and a west tower with a spire. The
building was very drastically restored in 1868–9 and
much of the evidence of its historical development was
lost. Not only was all the external masonry renewed
but the internal stonework was scraped, if not replaced
by modern material. The contours of mouldings, &c.,
were probably altered in the process but retain enough
of their original forms to indicate approximately their
dates. The earliest surviving parts of the structure are
the four eastern bays of the seven-bay arcades; these
date from c. 1340, indicating an original nave of about
54 ft. in length to which the aisles were added. The
nave was lengthened subsequently about 32 ft. and the
west tower was added. Dugdale states that the tower
was built by William de Montfort who succeeded to
the Coleshill manor in 1384–5, but its details suggest
a date at least half a century later than this. From the
way the eastern diagonal buttresses obtrude upon the
aisles it is probable that the original extension was aisleless and that aisles were added at the end of the century.
The arcade capitals differ entirely from those of the
tower archway. Before 1868 the aisles of the 14th-century portion of the nave were of the present width
(c. 18 ft.), but those of the 15th-century portion were
narrow and were covered by the continuance downwards of the slopes of the nave-roof. Had the tower
and the narrow aisles been coeval the eastern angles of
the tower would have been treated differently within
the church. The chancel was rebuilt, also late in the
15th century: it was erected probably around the earlier
chancel, of which no traces are left. The west tower
had a spire which was struck by lightning in 1550 and
was then re-erected 15 ft. less in height. It was again
rebuilt in 1888. The east wall of the chancel was
restored in 1907.

The chancel (about 39 ft. by 24 ft.) has a modern
east window of seven lights and vertical tracery. In
each side wall are three windows, each of five lights
and vertical tracery in a four-centred head with hood-moulds: parts of the jambs and splays may be original,
although re-tooled. Below the westernmost window in
each wall is a two-light pseudo-window or blank, of
modern masonry. These may be reproductions of
former low side windows, although in their present
form they have never been glazed. Below the west
jamb of the middle north window is a moulded and
four-centred doorway to the vestry; its crocketed hood-mould has damaged stops carved as harts. The general
floor-level of the chancel has been raised so that there
are now three steps down to its threshold. In the south
wall opposite to it is a similar doorway for priests; its
mouldings which are external have been restored. The
walls are of red sandstone ashlar and have a moulded
plinth. The angles have diagonal buttresses and each
side wall three square buttresses (one at the west end).
Above them are carved spouts and crocketed pinnacles.
The parapets are embattled. The roof, almost flat, is
modern but the stone corbels supporting the four
trusses may be ancient: they are carved as demi-angels
with shields.

In the south wall are the mutilated remains of two
canopied sedilia.

The chancel arch has responds and two-centred head
of two chamfered orders. The moulded capitals are
probably of the 14th century but have been reworked.

The nave (about 86 ft. by 18½ ft.) has north and
south arcades of seven bays, with short responds between the fourth and fifth bays. The pillars are octagonal with plain bases and moulded capitals; the
capitals of the four eastern bays are of early-14th-century form retooled; those of the western bays are
of late-15th-century form and are larger and higher.
All the arches are two-centred and of two chamfered
orders. The high walls above the arcades are unpierced
except for one modern three-light window over each
of the easternmost pillars. The gabled roof is modern
and is of trussed rafter type.

The north aisle (about 18 ft. wide) has east and west
windows of three lights and geometrical tracery; the
western is set in the south part of the wall. In the
north wall are four windows, each of two trefoiled
lights and tracery. The north doorway, between the
third and fourth, has moulded jambs and pointed head:
the hood-mould has shield stops carved with the Digby
arms and initials G D W D. (fn. 130) None of the masonry
of the windows and doorway is ancient. The walls
are of sandstone ashlar in large courses, almost entirely
modern. At the angles are diagonal buttresses, and
there are two buttresses forming three bays outside, east
of the modern porch.

The south aisle is generally similar but has five south
windows and the south buttresses form four bays east
of the porch. The shield stops to the doorway have the
Digby arms and a monogram J. D. W. D. (fn. 131) Both
aisles have modern gabled roofs of trussed rafter type.

The west tower (about 17 ft. square inside) is of
three stages and built of red sandstone ashlar in small
courses. It has a moulded plinth, and an embattled
parapet above a range of trefoiled panels; the merlons
are also panelled and at the angles are gargoyles. The
diagonal angle-buttresses, of five stages, change to
square buttresses at the bell-chamber or third stage,
where they are treated with trefoiled panels with
crocketed hood-moulds. They are surmounted by
crocketed pinnacles above the parapet. The archway
towards the nave has responds of two orders; the inner
is rounded, with a very wide flat fillet in the reveal and
with moulded capitals at the springing level: the outer
is sunk-chamfered and continuous in the two-centred
head, which has a chamfered inner order. The west
doorway has moulded jambs and a four-centred head
with a crocketed hood-mould having large demi-angel
stops. The west window is of five cinquefoiled lights
and vertical tracery in a two-centred head with a
crocketed hood-mould: the stops are carved as winged
monsters. The second stage has a window in each wall
of two trefoiled lights and tracery in a four-centred
head with a similar hood-mould. Above the west,
north, and south windows are canopied niches with
crocketed hood-moulds; the corbels are carved with
winged beasts. The north and south niches contain
ancient images, now headless. All are covered by
skeleton clock-dials.

The bell-chamber has a pair of windows in each side
with trefoiled lights, embattled transoms, and fourcentred main heads. They are flanked by blanks of the
same design. All have crocketed hood-moulds with
stops carved as winged beasts, heads downwards. In
the south-west angle is a stair-vice with four-centred
doorways and lighted by loops with crocketed hood-moulds. All the masonry has been restored. The octagonal spire has crocketed moulded angles and ranges of
twin trefoiled spire-lights. At the apex is a gilded ball
and vane.

The most interesting features of the church are the
font and the sepulchral monuments.

The font is of mid- to late-12th-century date. The
bowl is cylindrical and its side is carved with panels.
The widest, towards the east, contains the Crucifixion;
a large ring pierced with small holes or dots surrounds
our Lord and crosses over the lower parts of the figures
of our Lady and St. John. The other nine panels are
narrow and are divided by pilasters with scalloped
capitals supporting semicircular arches. Four of them
contain low-relief carved standing figures of nimbed
saints, apparently ecclesiastics. One holds an object
probably a book and two others have short flowered
staves resembling sceptres. The other five alternate
panels are filled with scrolled foliage, and there is some
foliage in the sides of the Crucifixion panel. The stem
has a moulded top member of the 14th century. The
base is hollow-chamfered and changes to octagonal plan
in the lower half.

The church is rich in recumbent effigies, of which
there are 8 altogether. The two oldest are set in
15th-century recesses in the north and south aisles.
Both are cross-legged knights of c. 1300, dressed in mail
coifs and hauberks, long surcoats, and leather breeches,
or knee-caps. Their feet rest on lions or hounds; the
northern beast is headless. On their left sides are
swords. The northern effigy has a shield with the arms
of Clinton of Coleshill, a chief with two fleurs de lis.
It is suspended by a guige that passes over his right
shoulder. The right side of his legs and surcoat is
mutilated. The southern is better preserved. The head
rests on two cushions, north of which is a small blank
shield.

In the chancel are four altar tombs to members of
the Digby family, two on either side. The oldest, in the
north-east corner, is to Simon Digby, died 27 February
1519 (1520), and Alice (fn. 132) his wife (date not completed). The tomb and effigies are of alabaster. The
man's head rests on his helm, which has lost its crest.
He wears full plate and mail armour of the period and
a collar of S.S., a sword on his left, and the remains of
his dagger on his right. His hands are in prayer; the
gauntlets lie by his right leg. His feet rest against a lion.
The woman, on his left, has her head resting on
cushions with tiny angels, now headless, holding the
corner tassels. She wears a veiled pedimental headdress, a chain necklace, a tight corsage below a sideless
gown which has a full skirt. About her waist is a girdle
with tasselled pendant cords and a medallion from
which is suspended a chain and pomander sachet. At
her feet are two tiny dogs. The sides of the tomb are
panelled with foiled diamonds in squares enclosing
shields. At the angles are twisted shafts painted black.
The capping is moulded and has a frieze on which is
carved the inscription in Latin. The moulded plinth
is enriched with flower or foliage paterae. The shields
are painted with the arms of Digby and Walleys.

The next in date is to 'Reginolde Dygby Esquyer'
son of Simon, died 25 April 1549, and Anne (fn. 133) his wife
(date not completed). It is the western of the two on
the south side and formerly stood free of the wall, as
the inscription is carried round all four sides of the
moulded edge of the top slab. This slab, of alabaster,
is incised with their effigies in outline; the lines were
filled with bitumen, some of which survives. The man
is portrayed with long hair, his head resting on his
helm; he wears full armour of the period with exaggerated pauldrons, elbow- and knee-cops, &c., and his
feet rest on a greyhound. The woman has a close head-dress with fur trimming, bodice with an embroidered
collar and pleated sleeves bound at the wrists with
cords, a mantle with pendant false sleeves, and fastened
down the front below the waist with tags, but raised
a little at the bottom to reveal her pleated skirt
and shoes. Below them are the figures of eight sons in
gowns and four daughters with close caps and puff
sleeves, &c. The base is almost a replica of the other;
on the plinth mould are carved the initials R A D in
Lombardic capitals. On the north side are five shields
and at the ends three, painted with the arms of Digby
and Danvers. The inscription is in English.

The third in point of date is the western on the north
side to 'John Dyggeby of Colleshull', (fn. 134) died 15 November 1558, and Anne his wife, daughter of Sir George
Throgmorton, who died 21 December in the same
year. Their recumbent effigies are of painted alabaster.
The man's head, with long hair, moustache, and forked
beard, rests on his mantled helm which bears the Digby
crest, an ostrich painted black, now headless. He wears
full armour, with three chains about his neck and
resting on his cuirass, pleated wristlets, a girdle of
twisted cord, a guige with a sword on his left, &c. His
feet rest on a lion. The woman has a close cap, beaded
and jewelled, close collar with a frilled edge and bound
by a chain necklet, close bodice and tight sleeves with
crimped cuffs, and a mantle tied in front from neck to
waist with cord tags but open below to show the skirt,
and having long false sleeves with puffed shoulders,
cheveron ornament, and slashes held together by
knotted tags. A tiny dog bites the end of the mantle.
The base has square pilasters at the angles and intermediate twisted shafts. At the east end are the small
standing figures of four sons, one in armour, two in
boys' gowns, and the fourth a swaddled baby. At the
west end is a shield with the arms of Digby (five
quarterings) impaling Throgmorton (seven quarterings), set in a circlet. On the south side are three shields
charged 1 Digby, 3 Throgmorton, and 2 the two impaled in the remains of a similar circlet. The inscription
is in English.

The fourth, in the south-east angle, is to Sir George
son of John died February 1586 (7), and Abigail his
wife, daughter of Sir Henry Heningam (Heveningham), Knight Banneret. Their painted recumbent
effigies are separate carvings. The knight is bearded
and his head rests on two cushions. He wears full
trunks and Elizabethan armour painted black, with a
good deal of gilded guilloche enrichment. His gloved
hands are in prayer and his feet rest on his gauntlets.
The lady wears a close head-dress with a French hood
turned over on top from back to front, a ruff, a tight
corsage which has a collar of point lace, and stiff
shoulders, a linen sleeved under-bodice with turn-over
cuffs and a full skirt. She appears to be lying on a long
veil, and her head rests on two cushions. It is all painted
black except the jewelled fillet in the head-dress and
the cushion-tassels. The alabaster slab has moulded
edges and is supported by Doric shafts. On the north
side are the kneeling figures of four sons, the first an
infant, the other three with beards or moustaches and
wearing armour. At the west end is the figure of a
daughter in a close cap, ruff, and red dress; her hands
are missing. The inscription (in modern lettering) is
on a tablet on the east wall set between a pair of Doric
shafts that carry an entablature. Above it is an achievement of the Digby arms (five quarterings).

Other monuments in the chancel include a stone
tablet on the north wall to Sir Robert Digby, Knight,
son of Sir George died 1614, and his son Robert,
created Lord Digby of Geashill, Ireland, 1642. Both
were buried in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin.

Against the south wall is a pedestal and urn with an
inscription to Kildare, Lord Digby (son of Robert the
first Baron). He married Mary daughter of Robert
Gardiner of London, and died 1661. He also was
buried in St. Patrick's Cathedral.

In the chancel floor are four brasses: (1) Near the
north wall, is the figure of a priest 12½ in. high, in
mass vestments and holding the Host; the Latin inscription below is to William Abell, former vicar, who died
18 May 1500. (2) In the middle of the chancel, the
figure of a priest wearing a cassock and lawn sleeves,
18½ in. high. He holds a book inscribed 'Verbũ dei'.
The inscription is to 'Syr John Fenton, prest & Bachelar
of Law, sumtyme vicar of this church and Offishall of
Coventree who Deceassed the XVI daye of Maye 1566'.
It is set in a slab of shelly grey marble. (3) North of
the altar table, the figure of a woman, 25½ in. high,
wearing a pedimental head-dress, gown with full skirt,
girdle, and pendant. Her hands are in prayer. A marginal inscription on the marble slab is to Alice Clifton,
'late the wyffe of Robert Clifton Esqre and daughter
of Simon Digby Esqre wch Alice' …(part missing) …
'and the yeare of our lord God MCCCCCVI'. (4) South
of the altar, a grey marble slab with a marginal inscription to Mary wife of John Milward of Bradnash, co.
Derby, who lived at Coleshill Hall with Lady Offaly
and died 1651. (5) Under the chancel arch, an inscription to Robert Beresford died 1651, with an achievement of arms.

There are 8 bells, 6 of 1720 by Joseph Smith of
Edgbaston and 2 of 1923.

The registers date from 1538.

In the churchyard by the south porch are the base
and part of the shaft of a medieval cross.

ADVOWSON

The ancient parish of Coleshill
included the villages of Lea Marston,
Over Whitacre, and Nether Whitacre, whose churches were chapels to Coleshill. Domesday records a priest, and it would seem that the
advowson went with the lordship until at least 1259,
when Thomas de Clinton recognized the manor, with
the advowson of the church, to be the right of John de
Clinton, (fn. 135) who in 1279 sold his claims to the advowson
to Markyate Priory, Beds. (fn. 136) From this time down to
the Dissolution the priory held the advowson. (fn. 137) In
January 1453 the prioress let at farm the church, with
houses and tithes, to Sir William Mountfort, his wife
Jane, and son Edmund; but by May 1454 they had
paid no rent and still owed various charges to the
bishop. (fn. 138)

After the Dissolution the priory was given to George
Ferrers, (fn. 139) but the advowson of Coleshill was retained
by the Crown until March 1539, when it was given
to Charles, Duke of Suffolk, (fn. 140) whose daughter Mary
had married Thomas Stanley, Lord Monteagle, (fn. 141) and
their son William, Lord Monteagle, appears as patron
in 1562. (fn. 142) By 1573 the advowson was in the hands of
the Digbys, (fn. 143) whose descendants still hold it. In 1577
John Neville's name appears together with that of
George Digby, but in 1606 John Neville and his wife
Alice quitclaimed their right to Sir Robert Digby. (fn. 144)

The rectory of Coleshill was retained by the Crown
until 1591, when it was sold to Edward Cordell, (fn. 145) and
the Lady Abigail his wife, (fn. 146) who was the widow of Sir
George Digby. (fn. 147)

Baroness Offaly, who married Sir Robert Digby
(1586–1618), gave the church a silver-gilt chalice; but
in 1685 Archbishop Sancroft dedicated the present
plate. (fn. 148) The vessels to be consecrated, a paten, two
chalices, a flagon, and a basin (all of which, with the
exception of the basin, are still in use) were placed on
a table before the altar. Then the vicar, Kettlewell,
handed each in turn to the Archbishop, 'whereupon
the Archbishop after an answere of approbation and
a devout invocation of the Holy Name of God, in
terms very pathetic and appropriate to the occassion,
standing before the midst of the altar did receive in
the Name of God from the hands of the presenter,
kneeling, each piece of plate separately and did place
it upon the altar'.

John Kettlewell, 'the Saint of Coleshill', was vicar
in 1682. He was a native of Northallerton, being born
there in 1653. In 1670 he was a student of St.
Edmund's Hall and a fellow of Lincoln College in
1675. He was appointed chaplain to the Countess of
Bedford, and in 1682 vicar of Coleshill, which he
resigned in 1690, for he was a nonjuror. He died five
years later and was buried in Laud's tomb in All Hallows' Barking. He was a voluminous writer, and his
collected works, together with a life by Dean Hickes
and Robert Nelson, were published in 1719.

CHARITIES

Simon, 4th Lord Digby, left £500
to trustees for such good, pious, and
charitable uses as they should think fit.
By deed dated 14 February 1694 the said trustees
covenanted that the £500 should be laid out in the
purchase of lands, the issues to be disposed of as follows:
(1) an annual sum of £2 10s. to buy Bibles, Prayer
Books, &c., for distribution among poor inhabitants;
(2) £5 to be applied annually in physic and things
necessary to recover health for the poor of the parish;
(3) £5 per annum to be expended in clothes for poor
widows and housekeepers within the parish; (4) £4
yearly to be employed in teaching poor boys and girls;
(5) £6 yearly in apprenticing one poor boy; and any
surplus to be applied to apprentices.

Offalia Rawlins by will dated 24 December 1687
left the residue of her estate for charitable uses at the
discretion of her executor. The residue consisting of
£100 was by deed dated 4 March 1694 settled by the
executor in the same manner as the £500 mentioned
in the preceding deed.

William, Lord Digby, brother of Simon, having
become possessed of the whole of the £600 settled by
the two preceding deeds, purchased a fee farm rent of
£35 17s. issuing out of the manor of Curdworth as
a security for the charities.

Thomas Everett by will dated 27 February 1712
gave his brother John Everett two tenements in Coleshill for life and bequeathed the same after the death of
his brother to the use of the poor of Coleshill. By deed
dated 1 December 1717 John Everett conveyed to the
trustees of Simon, Lord Digby's Charity two cottages
in Coleshill.

John Everett by indenture dated 7 February 1720
conveyed to the trustees of Simon, Lord Digby's
Charity three tenements in Coleshill towards the support of the Charity School in Coleshill for educating
poor girls.

Gustavus Brooke by indenture dated 8 May 1761
granted to Henry, Lord Digby, a yearly rent-charge of
40s. issuing out of land in Coleshill called Dog Lane
Croft and Peploe Croft, for clothing such poor people
of the parish as Lord Digby and his heirs and the vicar
of Coleshill as trustees of Simon, Lord Digby's Charity
should think fit.

John Adamson by will directed that the sum of £20
should be placed out for the use of the poor of Coleshill
and the interest distributed in bread to such of the poor
people as should come to church and hear Divine Service. Of this legacy only £15, which was deposited in
the hands of Lord Digby, could be recovered from the
executors.

Margery Orton by will gave to the trustees of Simon,
Lord Digby's Charity the sum of £10, the interest to
be distributed in bread among poor housekeepers in
Coleshill.

William, Lord Digby's Charity. By deed dated
21 May 1730 William, Lord Digby, in consideration
of the sums of £15 and £10 left by J. Adamson and
M. Orton, sold to the vicar of Coleshill a messuage in
Coleshill then used for a Charity School for girls, also
two cottages in Coleshill, an acre of meadow ground
lying in Cole Meadow, and a cottage with barns, buildings, gardens, and appurtenances thereto belonging.
The deed directs that out of the issues of the property
15s. and 10s. shall be paid yearly to the churchwardens
for distribution as directed in the wills of J. Adamson
and M. Orton, the surplus to be applied to the use of
the mistress of the Charity School.

Gustavus Long by will bequeathed £10 for the use
of the Girls' School.

By a Scheme of the Charity Commissioners dated
18 October 1907 the above-mentioned charities (which
appeared to have been administered as one charity) and
their endowments were divided into separate foundations known as the Educational Foundation of Simon,
Lord Digby, and others, and the Non-Educational
Charity. The endowment of the non-educational
charity then consisted of a rent-charge of £32 3s. 7d.
(subject to a payment of £8 16s. 7d. to the educational
foundation), a rent-charge of £2, five houses, and
gardens at Coleshill, and £107 16s. 4d. Consols.

Huntbach's Charity, or The Whitacre Dole. By
deed dated 1 June 1652, made in pursuance of the will
of Thomas Huntbach dated 1 June 1628, a cottage
and land in Nether Whitacre were conveyed to trustees
to the use of the poor of Coleshill. The endowment
is now represented by 7 acres (approx.) of land at
Nether Whitacre let at an annual rent of £9.

Mrs. Mantell left by will in 1754 £20 to the poor
of Coleshill. This sum was invested in Consols and
produces an income of 10s. 4d.

Mary Wharr, who died in 1842, gave by will to the
vicar and churchwardens £200 Consols, the dividends
to be distributed among 24 poor widows of Coleshill.
The stock now produces an annual income of £5.

James Tavener by will dated 1851 gave to the vicar
and churchwardens £500, the interest to be applied in
the distribution of coals and clothing to the poor of
Coleshill. The legacy was invested and now produces
an annual income of £11. 3s. 8d.

Mary Proctor by will proved 24 January 1867 gave
£50 to the trustees of Thomas Huntbach's Charity, the
interest to be distributed to the poor of Coleshill. The
legacy produces £1 6s. 4d. annually in dividends.

Thomas Harris by will proved 14 January 1858
gave to the churchwardens and overseers £40, the
interest to be distributed equally among six poor
widows of Coleshill. This now produces £1 1s. 8d.
annually.

By a Scheme of the said Commissioners dated 30
May 1911 it was directed that the above-mentioned
six charities shall be included with the said non-educational charity of Simon, Lord Digby, and others under
the same title and managed by a body of seven trustees
appointed by the 1907 Scheme. The scheme provides
for the income of the charities to be applied for the
benefit of the poor of Coleshill in such way as the
trustees consider most advantageous to the recipients
and most conducive to the formation of provident
habits. The endowment of the charities now produces
an annual income of £110 (approx.).

Footnotes

1. Under the Warwickshire Review
Order of 1932 part of Sheldon was added
to Coleshill, and the modern parish contains 6,179 acres.

26.
Cal. Inq. p.m. v, no. 595. He held it
by service of 1d. yearly and ½ knight's fee.
The young John de Clinton of Maxstoke
held it of William la Zousch as part of the
barony of Cantilupe as ½ knight's fee: ibid.
Cf. Cal. Close, 1272–9, p. 295, for partition
in 1276 of fees, &c., late of George de
Cantilupe; also Feud. Aids, v, 180.

43. Dugd. 1010–11. Edmund was described as 'late of Coleshill' in 1454: Cal.
Pat. 1452–61, p. 135. He was appointed
sheriff in Nov. 1459, but was subsequently
attainted: P.R.O. Lists and Indexes, ix
(List of Sheriffs).

44. Simon Mountfort is said to have been
of the council of the Earl of Warwick in
1456: Dugd. 1011.

46.
Cal. Pat. 1461–7, p. 51. In 1471,
when a widower and an ordained priest,
Sir Baldwin produced a long instrument in
which he declared that any leases made by
him of the manor had been extorted from
him by the Duke of Buckingham and
others: Dugd., loc. cit.